You have seen trendy teeth-whitening methods popping up all over the place; tv, magazines and Instagram, but have you ever wondered if they actually work? At Chicago Smile Design, our cosmetic dentist in Chicago will take you through the three most popular trends and give you their honest opinion.

Charcoal

Charcoal is the most popular teeth whitening trick around today. Brands claim that brushing with activated charcoal will absorb stains and bacteria, therefore making your teeth whiter. Although your teeth do appear whiter after use, it’s not clear how abrasive charcoal is and what kind of damage it is doing to your tooth enamel - we suggest skipping over this one until there is more research.

Coconut Oil

Some people claim that leaving coconut oil on your teeth for at least 20 minutes a day will brighten your smile. While these will not have a negative effect on your health, there is no proof that it will whiten your teeth. This is more commonly known as oil pulling, and it does reduce bacteria in your mouth, but it is not proven to whiten your teeth.

Fruit

A mixture of strawberries and baking soda has been said to whiten your smile. This seems easy enough, but does it work? Dr. So Ran Kwon, an associate professor and dental researcher at the University of Iowa, tested this combination and found that it did not whiten teeth. While some of these items might make your smile appear whiter, there is minimal medical proof that they work. In order to get the white smile you are after, schedule an appointment with a cosmetic dentist in Chicago at Chicago Smile Design today. Source: UIowa

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